Nov 8·edited Nov 8Liked by Dcn. Thomas L. McDonald
Beautiful reflection. It's easy to get caught up in the desire to do "great things" but neglect the small ones. The small ones have more immediate effect, both personally and on those around us. Your thoughts brought to mind a passage from The Nun's Story by Kathryn Hulme:
"She began with childhood, with the cook, Françoise, who had never cut into bread without first tapping the knife in the sign of the cross over the big round loaf. The child who watched the bread-cutting ritual used to go with the cook to first Mass every day, not because she understood then anything of its significance, but because there was something wonderful and mysterious about candles and singing before sunlight and the sight of so many grownups doing without breakfast until a small white wafer had been dropped upon their tongues. Then there were the visits she used to make with her doctor father to homes in the provinces as they were in the old days, every one with a big old-fashioned rosary hanging on the wall from two pegs spaced far enough apart to make the crucifix fall heart-shape to a point at the base. You seldom saw such visible piety now. Nor did you see nowadays the great single eye in a triangle which used to be painted over the zinc bars of country cafes where her father refreshed himself after his rounds. She remembered his explaining that the strange compelling design meant that the Eye of God was upon the place and no cursing would be permitted. The old-fashioned religious childhood, she thought. God was like one of the family and this above all is why I am here. I learned to love Him when I was very young..."
Beautiful reflection. It's easy to get caught up in the desire to do "great things" but neglect the small ones. The small ones have more immediate effect, both personally and on those around us. Your thoughts brought to mind a passage from The Nun's Story by Kathryn Hulme:
"She began with childhood, with the cook, Françoise, who had never cut into bread without first tapping the knife in the sign of the cross over the big round loaf. The child who watched the bread-cutting ritual used to go with the cook to first Mass every day, not because she understood then anything of its significance, but because there was something wonderful and mysterious about candles and singing before sunlight and the sight of so many grownups doing without breakfast until a small white wafer had been dropped upon their tongues. Then there were the visits she used to make with her doctor father to homes in the provinces as they were in the old days, every one with a big old-fashioned rosary hanging on the wall from two pegs spaced far enough apart to make the crucifix fall heart-shape to a point at the base. You seldom saw such visible piety now. Nor did you see nowadays the great single eye in a triangle which used to be painted over the zinc bars of country cafes where her father refreshed himself after his rounds. She remembered his explaining that the strange compelling design meant that the Eye of God was upon the place and no cursing would be permitted. The old-fashioned religious childhood, she thought. God was like one of the family and this above all is why I am here. I learned to love Him when I was very young..."
Who's the author?
Fixed it in the comment.
Kathryn Hulme